The Ceylon Petrolium Corporation (CPC) reduced the prices of Lanka auto diesel and kerosene oil effective from midnight yesterday (02).

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) will form an alliance along with all leftist and progressive forces to contest the upcoming local government polls, said its general secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara.

The gazette calling for nominations for the local government polls will be issued this week, said Election Commission chairman Nimal Punchihewa.

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) will contest the upcoming local government polls on its own for a majority of the LG bodies, said its general secretary Sagara Kariyawasam.

Public Utilities Commission chairman Janaka Ratnayake has refused to consider any cabinet order to raise electricity tariffs.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Freedom People’s Council and the Supreme Lanka Council are proposed to ally under a leadership council to contest the local government polls, reports lankadeepa.lk.

Ex-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, presently on vacation in Dubai with his family, is expected back home on January 05.

There are plans to import essential supplies on credit basis outside the tender procedure, say sources at the National Audit Office.

Jaffna has a new acting district secretary in Maradalingam Pratheepan from yesterday (01).

Several more parliamentarians of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) are planning to become independent, "Deshaya" reported.

MPs Wimalaweera Dissanayake and Jagath Kumara have already spoken publicly about their possible breakaway from the party.